Whoa! They look amazing...never missed day one would think. If they can win in Vancouver it would the best end to an amazing career.
How old would they be anyway in Februaury? Would they be the oldest pair ever to win olympic gold?

They look great! Actually, their throws, twists, and jumps all looked good in shows, too. They were clearly keeping up their skill set, in case they decided to come back.

The gist:

It has been two months since S/Z have announced their comeback, let's take a look at their current conditions...

Accompanied by the romantic Adagio music, they are enacting their own love story. Stroking, throw jumps, lifts, spinning, it is hard for non-professionals to discern that they haven't competed for more than two years. Even the element that had worried coach Yao Bin, namely Zhao's solo jump, has a very high success rate right now...

Shen: Mmm, we feel pretty good right now. We concentrated on jumps for a month, and now last month we have been putting together the music, so far everything is going pretty smoothly. Also, it (the comeback) didn't turn out to be as difficult as we had thought it would be. It's going okay.

Yao Bin: Not bad, not bad. It's going better than expected. Over the last two years, we haven't really had a chance to see their technical abilities. They were performing abroad, but performing and competing are like two parallel tracks, although the same technique... So far, we feel pretty positive. The main thing is that they have confidence, self-confidence. They are doing the very best with their physical conditions.

After years of training and injuries, Shen and Zhao's aching, aging bodies need almost two hours of physical therapy/massages every evening after training. One challenge they face is how to avoid injuries.

Pairs
Shen/Zhao* (thank you for coming back)
Savchenko/Szolkowy (do new interesting programmes as you always do. First time in olympics; good luck)
Pang/Tong (show me your technical and performing abilities when you are at your best)
Volosochar/Morozov (do it clean, now or never...I want a medal for you)
James/Bonheur (I am sure you are better than last season...just go for it)

Ladies
Joannie (A bit more self-esteem and you will do great. I want gold for you)
Caro K (believe in yourself)
Miki (wow, after watching that ex in Dreams on Ice you are almost my favorite. Skate like that in olympics)
Mao (do excellent 3-axels and relaxe)
Leonova (do your happy skating even better than last season. I really want you to surprise me)
(No nail biting for Yu-na*, she will do fine anyway)

IMO the whole men's FS competition will be nailbiting and the most exciting, unpredictable, fantastic, entertaining, shocking(?) event in Vancouver.

I will be extra nervous watching these:

Jeremy (pleeeease do well with your great music choices)
Johnny (continue beeing cool, take care of yourself and do the skates of your life)
Oda* (learn the rules properly and be funny)
Verner (entertain and show us your technical skills that you master)
Joubert (have a nice, fun training with D/S and perform well in OG. I am curious)

Joannie Rochette: Does she bow to the pressure or let it invigorate her? We've seen both in these past seasons and while I'm hoping it invigorates her (and I think her performance at worlds is provides some reason that it could), but it could go either way.

Fumie Suguri: Is it pretty much taken as definitive that the Japanese team will be Nakano, Asada and Ando? While I quite like her as a skater, I sorta feel similarly to her as I do to Cohen. I can't really imagine her cracking the top five (which would be an achievement) and I genuinely wonder what they get out of going to the Olympics, outside the thrill of competing at the Games (which is not inconsiderable). Anyway, I'm definitely rooting for her to make the Olympic team (though it's unlikely) because I've always enjoyed watching her (over Ando, though I'm warming to her now).

Carolina Kostner: Oh, I want her to comeback from Worlds. While I don't think a medal's in the future, I'm really hoping she delivers a performance that wipes her free skate from memory. I know she tends to be a short program performer, but I'm craving a lights-out long.

Daisuke Takahashi: I'm worried he pushes too hard and reinjures himself. I don't know the ins and outs of his injury, so I might be worrying over nothing, but whatever. He's the closest thing to my favourite male skater currently going (I like Chan quite a bit too) and I want him to do well at the Olympics. But I'd rather make sure he stayed healthy and did well in 2011 at home (if I can't have both).

I'm also hoping that in all four events we get "gold medal" performances. Not like pairs in 2008. I don't necessarily mean winning both/all portions of the skate, but great skates nonetheless.

How old would they be anyway in Februaury? Would they be the oldest pair ever to win olympic gold?

They'd be 31 and 36. It would be crazy if they won, but I'm still thinking S/S have a better chance to pull this one out. It will be interesting to see how S/Z handle the competitive season after taking a couple years off.

Savchenko/Szolkowy (do new interesting programmes as you always do. First time in olympics; good luck)

It will actually be their second Olympics...They were 6th in 2006. Of course, it's a little different now because they will be going in as the favorites, but I think they can handle it. If not, at least one of the Chinese pairs will probably be ready to step in there and take gold.

How old would they be anyway in Februaury? Would they be the oldest pair ever to win olympic gold?

Not exactly - it would be comparable to the Protopopovs when they won in Grenoble in 1968 (he was 35, she was 32). But obviosuly pairs skating is more physicially demanding these days, so it would be tougher. Xue Shen will also be close to the age Irina Rodnina was when she won her third gold (less than a year older).

Not exactly - it would be comparable to the Protopopovs when they won in Grenoble in 1968 (he was 35, she was 32). But obviosuly pairs skating is more physicially demanding these days, so it would be tougher. Xue Shen will also be close to the age Irina Rodnina was when she won her third gold (less than a year older).

they seem very strong and live, we'll see when they debut...THEN we can....analyze and speculate.

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i think that the men's competition will keep me on the edge of my seat. I can't even pick a favorite because it's really anyone's medal at this point. I think dance will be exciting as well...another one that's up for grabs.

i think that the men's competition will keep me on the edge of my seat. I can't even pick a favorite because it's really anyone's medal at this point. I think dance will be exciting as well...another one that's up for grabs.

Men - definitely Dance - may aleady be decided. Ladies - which one of the two? and that bronze medal for ??? Pairs - Mistakes will lose the championship for any of the top 5.

For me, there is not much change since Worlds 2009. I am hoping that the GP events and final will give us more clearer soothsaying for the Olys..

Men - definitely Dance - may aleady be decided. Ladies - which one of the two? and that bronze medal for ??? Pairs - Mistakes will lose the championship for any of the top 5.

Mmm, I wouldn't be so sure about the ladies' competition. When was the last time the favourite, or even the second favourite, won? It seems as though it'll be Yu-Na or maybe Mao, but looking back at the last few olympics, I wouldn't put my money on it.
06: Everyone thought it would be Slutskaya who might have to fight Cohen for gold, but Arakawa won
02: It was supposed to be a Kwan vs Slutskaya match and Hughs won
98: This time the favourite (Kwan) didn't win, but the second favourite did.

I agree that ice-dancing may more or less be decided (at least for gold, although there are two main competitors). However, it's difficult to know who the top 5 will be.